Improvement in machines for fitting and tempering springs



c. '3. Know.

MACHINES FOR FITTING, A'ND TEMPERING SPRINGS.

No.18'3,765. Patented o1-..s1. 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. KOON, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT i'N MACHINES FOR FITTING AND TEMPERING SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. I 83,765. dated October31, 1876; application filed September 9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. KooN, of the city of Auburn, in thecounty of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Combined Machines for Fitting and Tempering Leaf-Springs for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 represents the machine in perspective; and Fig. 2represents, in top View, the templets in use.

The bending and setting or fitting of vehicle-springs, as well as thetempering, is an operation, as it is now generally done, that requiresmany manipulations and skilled me chanics to accomplish while the steelis at the proper temperature; otherwise the result is badly fitted ortempered springs.

The object of my invention is to fit the main leaves of vehicle-springsto a prepared form or,templet and temper them at one operation, and alsoto fit the outer leaves to the main leaves, and to each other, by meansof a sliding flexible templet, composed of several sections or parts, soarranged and adjusted that each may act independently of the otherthrough a short distance, and adapt itself to the slight inequalities ofspring-leaves, while fitting them and tempering them at the same time,thus rendering careful manipulations by skilled hands unnecessary toproduce uniform results, and, consequently, much reducing the expense.

In the drawings, A represents a platform or bed piece, constructedpreferably of iron, to which is firmly fastened the stationary metallictemplet a, equal in thickness to the width of the leaf to be fitted. Thefront edge a, is curved to correspond with the curve or set desired inthe leaf to be fitted and tempered. In first fitting the main leaves asolid concave templet is used in place of the sectional templet B,(shown in the drawings,) and the steel plate that is to be shaped isplaced, at a red heat, between the templets a and a solid concavetemplet, which is forced by an eccentric, b, so as to bend it to thedesired. curve. While it is held in this position, and

before it has time to cool, a heavy metallic block, 0, hinged to theframe by a rod, f, passing through eyebolts g, by which it can beadjusted to the height of the leaf and said block, extending the wholelength of the leaf, is dropped upon the edge of the leaf, for thepurpose of driving it down against the bedplate A and straightening itedgewise. The templets are kept cool by the application of water betweeneach operation, and thus the leaf is tempered by its contact with thecold metal while it is held in the required position. To fit and temperthe next leaf to the :main leaf, a templet similar to templetais used,made to correspond with the curve required in this leaf when tempered;or the main leaf w is retained in position against the templet a, andthe leaf y is pressed and fitted against it by the templet B andsections cc. This templet B is formed of three or more sections joinedtogether, so that each may move a short distance independently of theothers, and, when pressure is applied to the templet B to force ittoward a, the sections press in succession against the leaf 3 which isthen at a red heat, forcing it against the tempered leaf m, if it isretained, which, in turn, is pressed against the templet a. The templetB, being formed in sections, adjusts itself to the curve intended to begiven to the leafy, thus fitting it closely to the leaf to. The sections0 c of the templet B are intended to fit the taper or draw at the endsof the leaves y, and are free to slide a short distance back or forwardin recesses formed in the templet B under the impulse given to them bythe ends of the spring-leaf y, or by their own springs d during theoperation. The block 0 is then dropped upon the edge of both leaves asand 3 and brings their edges in the same horizontal plane, and thetemplets, block 0, and bed-piece A chill and temper the leaf on bothsides and edges, while it is held in the required position, withoutbringing any water in contact with it, as it is liable to Warp and twistthe spring, even when held rigidly to the templets. In like manner, andby means of templets properly curved, another leaf is fitted andtempered against the leaf 3 or between the templets a and B c c, thehorizontal bed-plate, (similar to templet 00,) and the block 0. The mainpart of templet B may be divided into two or more sections; but I preferto use it as shown in the drawings.

1 am aware that teinplets for bending vehicle-springs have been used soas to operate vertically upon corresponding templets or formers, saidtemplets being either solid or formed in sections, tappets, or supports,placed either side by side, or at a distance apart. I am aware, also,that hollow or divided teinplets have been operated vertically, andused, in connection with water, to chill the leaves of springs; and 1 donot claim any of these devices.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a horizontal baseplate, A, of two opposingtemplets and a straighteningblock, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. The combination of a sectional flexible templet, B c c, a solidtemplet, a, and a horizontal bed-plate, A, with the block 0, hinged tosaid bed-plate or foundation, for fitting, straightening. and temperingvehicle-springs at one operation, substantially as described.

CHARLES B. KOON.

Witnesses E. E. MASSON, WM. B. EDELEN.

